The key points
- Online preparation produces paperwork, not a divorce judgment.
- California uses official Judicial Council forms.
- Electronic filing rules depend on the county.
- Agreement does not remove financial disclosure requirements.
What the online part actually does
An online document preparation service uses your answers to help complete court paperwork. The resulting documents still need your attention. Review names, dates, property details, support terms, and any information about your children before signing.
California courts use mandatory Judicial Council forms. A service does not create a special kind of online divorce, and completing a questionnaire does not open a court case. Filing the required documents with the Superior Court is a separate step.
Some services are intended for spouses who agree on the issues. A document service cannot resolve a disagreement about a home, retirement account, support, or a parenting arrangement. Those issues need an agreement or a court decision. Our guide to uncontested divorce explains what a complete agreement needs to cover.
Preparation is different from electronic filing
Document preparation means completing the papers. Electronic filing means sending them to the court through an approved system. Paying for preparation does not necessarily pay for filing, court fees, or service of process.
California has no single statewide divorce filing portal. Availability, approved providers, and local requirements differ among Superior Courts. Do not assume a service can file in your county just because it can prepare California forms.
Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego have electronic filing options for self-represented litigants. Local rules can change. Check your own court before choosing a provider or deciding to file on paper. Read the filing process before making arrangements.
Choose the court route before choosing software
In a standard case, one spouse begins with Petition (FL-100) and Summons (FL-110). The other spouse receives formal notice through service and can file a Response (FL-120). Additional papers depend on children, finances, and the way the case will finish.
California also has a joint petition route using FL-700 and FL-710. Both spouses begin together and there is no initial service of process. This route has its own instructions. Summary dissolution uses another set of forms and has stricter eligibility rules.
Online preparation should fit the route you actually use. A short eligibility questionnaire is not a court determination. Check the California forms guide to understand the differences before entering information.
What remains your responsibility
- Check residency and the correct county.
- Review the completed documents and sign where required.
- File with the court and address court fees or a fee waiver.
- Arrange legally valid service if your route requires it.
- Complete financial disclosures and resolve every issue.
- Submit final papers and obtain a court judgment.
In a standard divorce, the minimum 6-month period runs from service of the summons and petition or the respondent's appearance, whichever is earlier. The joint petition has a different starting event. An agreed case can still take longer than the minimum if paperwork needs correction or court review takes time.
Compare the offer before you pay
Read what the preparation fee includes, which procedural routes the provider supports, and what happens if your circumstances change. Check any recurring charges and cancellation terms directly with the provider. Court fees are separate unless expressly stated otherwise.
Free official forms remain available from California Courts. Paid preparation is an optional way to complete documents. It is not a substitute for individual legal advice or a promise that a court will accept your papers. For a comparison of ways to get help, see divorce without a lawyer.
Common questions
Can you file for divorce online in California?
You can prepare California divorce papers online, but electronic filing depends on the county where you file. Check your Superior Court’s current options and local forms before submitting documents. Online preparation does not replace service where required, financial disclosures, or final court papers. A judge must enter a Judgment before the marriage can end. Completing a questionnaire neither finalizes a divorce nor starts the statutory waiting period.
Are forms completed online different from court forms?
Online preparation is a way to fill in documents, not a separate kind of court form. For a standard case, compare the generated Petition (FL-100), Summons (FL-110), and any required attachments with current California Courts versions. Check names, requests, signatures, and local forms before filing. A joint petition uses a different opening set, so first confirm which process the questionnaire supports. The court reviews the filed documents, not the questionnaire that helped produce them.
Does online preparation include the court fee?
Usually not. A document-preparation charge and the Superior Court’s filing fee are separate unless the provider’s current terms expressly say otherwise. Before buying, check which forms and services the charge includes, then confirm the filing fee and any electronic filing charge with your county court. If you cannot afford court fees, review the court’s fee-waiver instructions; a document service cannot approve a waiver.
Can online preparation settle a dispute?
Document preparation records answers and agreed terms. It does not decide disputed property, support, or parenting issues. If you cannot reach agreement or need advice about your rights, get help from a California lawyer.
Is the questionnaire the start of the waiting period?
No. For a standard divorce, the relevant event is service of the summons and petition or the respondent’s appearance, whichever is earlier. For a joint petition, the period is tied to filing. Neither begins when you buy or complete a document questionnaire.
Official California references
Requirements and forms can change. Check the current instructions and your local court’s requirements. This page is not an attorney-reviewed legal opinion.